Acts 16:9-15, 40

The Epistle to the Philippians

Her Ministry: Prayer, Hospitality, Evangelism

Her Home Life: : Lydia was an Asiatic woman from the city of Thyatira. We know little else of her background. Her home was located at Philippi in the Colony of Macedonia. Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia, was named after Alexander the Great's son, Philip.

Her Status: As a single, independent, and prominent business woman, Lydia made her living working with purple dyes (a seller of purple). Purple dyes were often derived from the coloring gleaned from shellfish and used on richly woven materials worn by royalty. It was a lucrative business for Lydia; since her dyes were elegant and costly, she earned enough to allow her to employ several servants and maintain a spacious home. Because Lydia had a strong religious belief, due to the heavy Jewish element in the area for which she became a part, God chose to bless her in her work.

Her Purpose: Lydia participated with the Jewish women in the prayer meetings held down by the river; she became Paul the Apostle's first convert at Philippi; she evangelized her servants following her conversion; and she offered her home for the use of missionaries as Paul and Timothy and Silas and Dr. Luke established the Philippian Church.

Her Character: : LYDIA was independent and devout in her religion. She believed strongly in prayer but had never had a born again experience. She needed someone to come along and water the tiny seed planted in her heart by consistent intercessory prayer and inspirational teaching. Paul was that watering can God chose to use. As a born-again Christian Lydia then became a faithful servant for the furtherance of the gospel. In her worldly profession, she dedicated all her work as unto the Lord.

Her Physical Attributes: Unknown

Meaning of her name: Lydia was named after the town of Lydia; her name means, "bending."

References:
Paul's Second Missionary Journey

Acts 16:9-15 NASB A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samrothrace and the day following to Neapolis; and from there to Philippi, which is the leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony and we were staying in this city for some days. And on the Sabbath we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named LYDIA, from the city of Thyratira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshipper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

In the next few verses Paul and Silas find themselves being taken to prison for casting an evil spirit out of another woman who had divining spirits. Verse 40 resumes with their departure from prison.

Acts 16:40 NASB And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia, and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

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